Karros Back in Lineup, Bats Sixth

Rather than send Eric Karros to triple-A Las Vegas for a rehab assignment, the Dodgers activated the first baseman from the disabled list Friday and placed infielder Tim Bogar on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right hamstring.

Karros was placed on the disabled list May 25, retroactive to May 22, because of a lower back sprain. He had been eligible to come off the disabled list since June 5 but remained inactive.

Manager Jim Tracy said there was never any real thought about sending Karros to triple-A Las Vegas.

“He, like a Gary Sheffield, is a guy, that with them having played as long as they have, and understanding themselves as well as they do, they’re just guys that I don’t see where they’re going to benefit a lot from going and facing an A-ball pitcher, or [going] where our triple-A club would be,” Tracy said. “It just doesn’t make any sense to me.”

The Las Vegas 51s are playing in Nashville, Tenn., this weekend.

Tracy did, however, juggle his lineup, moving Karros from his customary fourth or fifth spot to sixth in the batting order.

“I want Eric to have an opportunity over the course of the next couple days to just re-settle himself into the situation and not feel like he’s letting the team down because I immediately stuck him right there in the middle of the lineup and the game finds him two or three or four times in situations where this at-bat could really help us,” Tracy said. “I think having him down behind Greenie [Shawn Green] helps Greenie No. 1 and No. 2 gives Eric an opportunity to clean up whatever a [Dave] Hansen, a Sheffield and a Green would possibly leave out there.

“And once Eric gets going and we get him back in a comfort zone, a comfort level against live pitching, we’ll readjust [the batting order] again.”

In his first game since May 21, Karros singled in his first at-bat and then got an infield single when he knocked Angel third baseman Troy Glaus on his posterior with a hard one-hopper off his right hand and chest. He had three hits in the game.

“I feel good,” Karros said. “I’m just happy to be off the DL.”

Karros had been bothered by his back since spring training and when he went on the disabled list, he was batting .232 with five home runs and 24 runs batted in.

Sheffield, who was on the disabled list from May 24-June 8 because of a strained left index finger and also skipped a minor league rehab assignment, said Karros’ return should have little impact on the team’s power numbers.

“It really doesn’t matter,” Sheffield said. “We’ve got guys that are qualified to pick up any guy that goes down and we’ve shown that. It’s not going to make a difference in how many runs we score or how less we score. We just need guys to contribute when they have to.”

Kevin Brown, experiencing numbness on the outer part of his right [throwing] arm, underwent a second nerve conduction test, an electro myography (EMG), Friday to rule out a connection between the irritated nerve in his neck and his arm. . . . Angel Pena, designated for assignment on June 8, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Las Vegas. . . . Andy Ashby’s season-ending surgery Friday to repair a tear in the flexor muscle in his right elbow did not provide any surprises, Tracy said. Ashby was moved to the 60-day disabled list. . . . The Dodgers announced the signings of left-handed pitcher Luis Gonzalez (11th-round draft pick) and outfielder Cedric Benson (12th-round pick). Both will report to Vero Beach, Fla., of the rookie Gulf Coast League. Benson, a Parade All-American running back, signed a dual-sport contract allowing him to play football at the University of Texas.